Gas-exploding apparatus for releasing pressure in a vacuum exhaust system of semiconductor equipment

ABSTRACT

A gas-exploding apparatus for a vacuum system of semiconductor equipment is disclosed. The gas-exploding apparatus includes two parts of a process tool and gas-exploding apparatus. The process tool contains a gas reaction chamber, and the process tool connects a first gas piping and dry pump to exhaust waste gas in the chamber. The gas-exploding apparatus includes a gas-exploding chamber, a gas valve and a pressure sensor. Here the gas-exploding chamber contains a gas-exploding disk thereon, wherein the chamber connects a first gas piping and second gas piping to receive the waste gas. The chamber connects a third gas piping to transport the waste gas to a local scrubber through the third gas piping, wherein the second gas piping connects the dry pump. The gas valve connects the chamber via a first pipe to release the waste gas to a central scrubber through a fourth gas piping. The pressure sensor connects the chamber via a second pipe to detect the pressure in the chamber. When the pressure in the chamber detected by the pressure sensor is larger than a reference value, the gas valve will be opened and the process tool shutdown by a controller. If the pressure is too large to release the pressure through the gas valve, then the gas-exploding disk will be broken with the excessive pressure to release the waste gas to atmosphere.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus used in protecting a semiconductor equipment, and, more particularly, to a gas-exploding apparatus for releasing pressure in a vacuum exhaust system of semiconductor equipment.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] The semiconductor industry has been advanced to the field of Ultra Large Scale Integrated (ULSI) technologies. The fabrication of the nonvolatile memories also follows the trend of the reduction of the size of a device. The high-density nonvolatile memories can be applied as the mass storage of portable handy terminals, solid state camera and PC cards. That is because that the nonvolatile memories exhibit many advantages, such as a fast access time, low power dissipation, and robustness. Further, it can be used to replace magnetic disk memory.

[0005] Furthermore, in the semiconductor factory, normally combustible gas, such as H₂, SiH₂, are frequently used for the semiconductor fabrication process. According to practical experience, only little the combustible gas will be reacted in the manufacturing machine and most of the combustible gas will be exhaust to local scrubber though the whole exhaust system. The waste gas will be dissolved by high temperature burning in the local scrubber. Sequentially, the burning gas is exhausted to a central scrubber through a pipe. Above process flow accompanies high temperature and fire source, if meet the O₂ leakage in the chamber or exhausting piping, then the fire source in the local scrubber will fire back to the process chamber and produce gas exploding in the process tool. The high pressure of the gas exploding will cause the exhaust system and process equipment damaged and could damage human health.

[0006] Therefore according to the above statement, it is apparently necessary to have special protection apparatus in order to exactly defend against injury from gas exploding.

[0007] Hence, no doubt, a new apparatus should be certainly expected for many of the operators working at the semiconductor factory and their related manufacturing facility. All of them indeed want protection for themselves. A much more standard safety quality for maintaining semiconductor is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus used in protecting a semiconductor equipment that substantially a gas-exploding apparatus for releasing pressure in a vacuum exhaust system of semiconductor equipment.

[0009] According to the apparatus for protecting semiconductor equipment, the apparatus mainly comprises a process tool, a gas-exploding apparatus and peripheral apparatus including a vacuum piping, a local scrubber and a central scrubber.

[0010] The process tool contains a gas reaction chamber, and the process tool connects a first gas piping and dry pump to exhaust waste gas in the chamber. The gas-exploding apparatus includes a gas-exploding chamber, a gas valve and a pressure sensor. Here the gas-exploding chamber contains a gas-exploding disk thereon, wherein the chamber connects a first gas piping and second gas piping to receive the waste gas. The chamber connects a third gas piping to transport the waste gas to a local scrubber through the third gas piping, wherein the second gas piping connects the dry pump. The gas valve connects the chamber via a first pipe to release the waste gas to a central scrubber through a fourth gas piping. The pressure sensor connects the chamber via a second pipe to detect the pressure in the chamber.

[0011] When the pressure in the chamber detected by the pressure sensor is larger than a reference value, the gas valve will be opened and the process tool shutdown by a controller. If the pressure is too large to release the pressure through the gas valve, then the gas-exploding disk will be broken with the excessive pressure to release the waste gas to atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is an embodiment illustrating the present invention for a gas-exploding apparatus of a vacuum system of semiconductor equipment;

[0014]FIG. 2 is an embodiment illustrating the present invention for a controller circuit; and

[0015]FIG. 3 is an embodiment illustrating the present invention for a fireproof installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] In one preferred embodiment, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, a gas-exploding apparatus 10 and a process tool 20 are the main parts of the present Invention. However, the gas-exploding apparatus 10 is apparently the main part for the present invention. The process tool 20, such as a CVD (Chemistry Vapor Deposition) equipment, contains a gas reaction chamber(not shown). Local scrubber, center scrubber and some connecting pipe apparatus is close to be defined as peripheral equipment for this protecting apparatus. The details will be described according to the following steps.

[0017] The waste gas exhausted by process tool 20 is normally under pressure into a high-vacuum pipe, such as through operation of a dry pump 21 or ATM (atmosphere) piping 22; meanwhile, a diluted nitrogen gas (N₂) is injecting into a ATM piping 22 and piping 23 to decrease the concentration of waste gas. Then the waste gas will go to the gas-exploding chamber 24 by the ATM piping 22 and piping 23, wherein the gas-exploding chamber 24 is designed as a pressure-resistant apparatus, for example, made of a stainless steel. The stainless steel type may be selected SUS316, and its thickness is 5 mm.

[0018] Moreover, the gas-exploding chamber 24 has a gas-exploding disk 25 thereon, wherein the chamber 24 connects the ATM piping 22 and piping 23 to receive the waste gas. Here the gas-exploding disk 25, such as a glass, is designed as the gas-exploding opening of the abnormal pressure, and the glass is a 6 inch diameter, 2 mm thickness, for example. Normally a thin mesh 33 is placed under the gas-exploding disk 25, and the thin mesh 33 opening is 1 mm. Here the gas-exploding chamber 24 connects a piping 26 to transport the waste gas to a local scrubber 27 through the piping 26, wherein the piping 23 connects the dry pump 21. The waste gas will be dissolved by high temperature burning in the local scrubber 27. Sequentially, the burning gas is exhausted to a central scrubber through a pipe.

[0019] A gas valve 28 connects the chamber 24 via a pipe 29 to release the waste gas to a central scrubber through a piping 30. Meanwhile we can inject a diluted nitrogen gas (N₂) into the pipe 29 in front of the gas valve 28 to prevent the gas valve 28 erosion, wherein the gas valve 28 gauge is 2 inch and the pipe 29 gauge is 8 inch. Furthermore, a pressure sensor 31 connects the chamber 24 via a piping 32 to detect the pressure in the chamber 24. The pressure sensor 31 functional test is finished by placing a manual valve 34 in front of the pressure sensor 31, wherein the pressure set range of the pressure sensor 31 is −1˜9 kg/cm². Also we can inject a diluted nitrogen gas (N₂) into the piping 32 in front of the pressure sensor 31 to prevent the pressure sensor 31 erosion, wherein the piping 32 gauge is 2 inch.

[0020] When the process chamber 24 or vacuum piping occur O₂ (oxygen) leakage, the waste gas, such as SiH₄ or H₂, of the vacuum piping will be burning or exploding, then the pressure in the chamber 24 is to be a abnormal condition. While the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 31 is larger than a reference value P, the gas valve 28 will be opened to release the pressure and the process tool 20 shutdown by a controller. The controller, for example, is a AC (alternating current) circuit, as illustrated as FIG. 2. When the controller receives the pressure sensor 31 abnormal signal, the P1 is closed to make a circuit. Therefore the controller is simultaneously executed opening the gas valve 28 by a solenoid valve and shutdown the process tool 20 by a relay. If the pressure is too large to release the pressure through the gas valve 28, then the gas-exploding disk 25 is broken with the excessive pressure to release the waste gas to atmosphere to avoid the process tool 20 and subordinate equipment damaged.

[0021] The apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a fireproof installation. As illustrated as FIG. 3, the fireproof installation comprises a IR sensor 40, two air valve v1 41 and v2 42, a controller 43 and a interface 44. It is noticed that the IR sensor 40 is specially used for sensing the fire in a pipe in front of a local scrubber 45, when a process chamber 46 or ATM piping occur O₂ (oxygen) leakage, the IR sensor 40 can sense a abnormal burning in the pipe from the local scrubber 45 to the process tool 46. When the controller 43 receives the IR sensor 40 abnormal signal through the interface 44, the controller 43 is simultaneously executed closing the valve v1 41 to avoid the process chamber 46 being burned, opening the valve v2 42 to purge a great quantity nitrogen gas (N₂) into the pipe to reduce combustible gas concentration to go out the fire, and shutdown the process tool 46 through the interface 44. The interface is PCB.

[0022] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from what is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A gas-exploding apparatus for releasing pressure in a vacuum exhaust system of semiconductor equipment, said apparatus comprising: a process tool containing a gas reaction chamber, said process tool connecting a first gas piping and dry pump to exhaust waste gas in said chamber; and a gas-exploding chamber having a gas-exploding device thereon, wherein said chamber connecting said first gas piping and a second gas piping to receive said waste gas, wherein said chamber connecting a third gas piping to transport said waste gas to a local scrubber through said third gas piping, wherein said second gas piping connecting said dry pump; a gas valve, wherein said gas valve connecting said chamber via a first pipe to release said waste gas to a central scrubber through a fourth gas piping; and a pressure sensor, wherein said pressure sensor connecting said chamber via a second pipe to detect the pressure in said chamber.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said process tool includes a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) equipment.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first gas piping and said second gas piping are injected into a diluted nitrogen gas (N₂).
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas-exploding chamber is made of stainless steel.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a thin mesh located under said gas-exploding device.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said gas-exploding device is glass.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor functional test is finished by placing a manual valve in front of said pressure sensor.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pressure set range of said pressure sensor is −1˜9 kg/cm².
 9. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising injecting a diluted nitrogen gas (N₂) into said second pipe in front of said pressure sensor to prevent said pressure sensor erosion.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising injecting a diluted nitrogen gas (N₂) into a pipe in front of said first pipe to prevent said gas valve erosion.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fireproof installation.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fireproof installation comprising: a IR sensor which is used for sensing the fire in a pipe in front of a local scrubber, when a process chamber or ATM piping occur O₂ (oxygen) leakage, said IR sensor can sense a abnormal burning in said pipe from said local scrubber to said process tool; a controller; two air valve, a first air valve and second air valve; and when said controller receives said IR sensor signal through a interface, said controller is simultaneously executed closing said first valve to avoid said process chamber being burned, opening said second valve to purge a great quantity nitrogen gas (N₂) into said pipe to reduce combustible gas concentration to go out said fire, and shutdown said process tool through said interface.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein interface is PCB. 